Figure Unveils Humanoid Robot Powered by OpenAI for Effortless Real-World Conversations
Meet Figure 02 – the Humanoid Robot That’s as Smooth as Its Name Suggests
When Figure rolls out its newest brain‑y shape, it’s easy to picture the robot looking like the next big thing in every laptop‑and‑smartphone‑ad. Instead of a raw prototyping clip, the teaser feels more like a sleek commercial, with a sprinkle of tech‑savvy hype.
What’s New?
- Succession – It’s the direct heir to Figure 01, which debuted in 2023.
- Slow‑Mo Gait – Think the wobbly baby steps of a new Lego set.
- Demo Zone – A makeshift floor inside Figure’s offices looks like a stage for a robotic ballet.
- Background Crew – Two other robots shuffle totes. Because every good robot needs an entourage.
How It Looks on the Screen
The video style has a familiar vibe: reminiscent of how a Netflix series lifts its own intro, not a raw lab experiment. It’s all polished, charismatic, and slightly too elegant, a little touch of “I’m there, and I’m ready to impress.”
Why the Slow‑Mo Gait Matters
Watching Figure 02 glide across the floor feels like elbow‑thumb rumbling: “Is it a person or a robot? Oh! It’s both.” The design plays into the “bent‑leg” aesthetic, a marker for a gentle, cautious approach—think of a toddler tying shoelaces.
Behind the Scenes
Nothing is out of the way here. The look and feel of the video place the robot in a very real setting—the middle of the office, turned into a makeshift demonstration space. The background robots carrying totes serve as the “real life” application for the figure, the “gig work” of a humanoid in a more domestic, real‑world environment.
Takeaway
Figure 02 is positioned as a cool, approachable robot tailored to everyday tasks. It’s got the style of a hype product and the practicality of a tote‑hauling helper. Expect more official demos soon, but the teaser already feels like a friendly, futuristic invitation to see how the next generation of smart hardware will operate on the daily grind.
Figure’s Latest Power‑up: A Bold Move With OpenAI
Picture this: Figure, the South Bay robotics wunderkind, just pulled in a fresh $675 million injection from OpenAI in February, pushing its valuation to a sleek $2.6 billion. That’s a big deal if you ask me.
Why This Matters for Robots (and Humans)
We’ve all seen how fast neural networks are taking over the AI world, but humanoid makers are especially giddy about the potential. Why? Because a well‑designed robot can literally sit beside you on the assembly line—assuming the safety protocols are all checked and double‑checked.
Meet the New Kid on the Block: Figure 02
- Full vocal arsenal: built-in speakers and microphones so it can actually talk and listen like a human coworker.
- Ready for action: e‑safety measures are on the table, ensuring it doesn’t become a rogue robot in the job.
- Smile factor: daisy‑chained conversations with the crew help melt the monotony of repetitive tasks.
Bottom Line
This partnership isn’t just about shiny tech. It signals a future where robotic assistants feel like teammates—strictly framed by safety, but otherwise totally on the same wavelength as a human team. If that weren’t enough, let’s face it: a robot that can chat? Now that’s a win for just about anyone.
Chatty Robots: The Pulse of Conversational AI in a Mechanical World
Human‑to‑robot chat is no longer just a sci‑fi fantasy—models like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are the voice of the next generation of smart assistants. Picture a helpful, ever‑ready sidekick that can pepper you with jokes, fetch data faster than a coffee cup pours, and do it all while staying clear about its inner workings. That’s what adding natural‑language skills gives us: humans can hand‑wave a request, and the robot lays out its thought process, making the whole interaction less opaque and a lot more friendly.
Why Words are the New Safety Net for a Gigantic, Wiggly Robot
- Humanoid robots are built to roam freely—there’s no safety cage in sight!
- Even though they look humanish, they’re still huge, heavy, and yes—potentially dangerous rolling machinery.
- Speech, combined with vision and proximity sensors, becomes an essential safety tool. It’s like having a verbal “stop” button that’s far more intuitive.
- When a robot says “I’m turning left” or “I’m pausing”, you’re not just hearing a command—you’re witnessing what the bot’s doing.
The Trailblazers Behind the Linguistic Layers
- Agility: Late last year, they showcased how generative AI is turbo‑charging human‑robot dialogue. Their breakthroughs made robots feel more like teammates than machines.
- Google’s “Everyday Robots”: The neural‑network specialists were a key focus before the team was closed. Their work still echoes in today’s AI‑powered robots.
- Elon Musk’s ventures: Grok AI and Optimus are taking the stage, likely to intertwine their objectives soon—think of it as the final front‑end of the AI‑robot evolution.
In short, the new age of conversational robots isn’t just about talking; it’s about bridging the gap between metal and human intention. As these giants hustle around bigger-than-life, it’s comforting to know they now have a voice to let us know what they’re thinking—every beep and motion painted with words that we can understand.
Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda
Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise.
Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda
Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.
San Francisco Scene: October 27‑29, 2025
Don’t miss out—register today!
OpenAI’s Latest Play
- OpenAI decided to cast a wider net and back a fresh tech contender.
- Earlier backing went to a cool Norwegian outfit called 1X.
- Now, the firm’s eye has turned to Figure—talk about a buzz‑worthy switch!
Why Figure’s In the Spotlight
Figure’s recent Series B has gathered a star‑packed lineup: Microsoft, Amazon, Nvidia, and Intel Capital. The upgrade has turned heads, making Figure the talk of the town.
What This Means for the Tech Landscape
With OpenAI picking up Where Figures can literally be seen in the headlines, the AI scene is primed for fresh innovations and fierce competition. Don’t let the hype pass you by—tune in!
Figure’s Bold Leap to Autonomy
Got a Meeting with BMW?
Figure has kicked off pilot projects with the German automaker BMW. In June, the company premiered a short video that shows an earlier, tethered version of its robot doing tasks on a factory floor all by itself, thanks to some fancy neural‑net wizardry.
Inside the Red‑Chip Phased‑Out Robot
The 02 robot has already taken a spin at BMW’s factory in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it’s collecting data and getting a crash course in how to make car manufacturing smoother.
- Ground‑up hardware & software revamp between 01 and 02
- Six RGB cameras + onboard visual language model
- Upgraded CPU/GPU for faster compute
- On a quest for better hands – 16 degrees of freedom
Everyone’s Talking About Hands
In the humanoid world, people argue over how human‑like a robot’s hand should be. Some say, “Make it sleek, make it delicate.” Others warn it’s over‑engineered. Figure sticks to the “human‑like hands” rule, believing that the actual shape of fingers can make all the difference on a factory floor.
When Will the Next Generation Roll Out?
Figure hasn’t set a launch date for 02 beyond the factory lines yet, but they’re hinting that the next step could be a broader, more everyday presence — perhaps even in our own homes down the line. “Our robot fuses human‑style dexterity with AI power to tackle a wide variety of jobs, from commercial labs to, soon, domestic chores,” the friendly Figure team says.
